MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Col. Joseph Deeds assumed command of the Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Wing during a change of command ceremony at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Sept. 6, 2025.
The official party included Brig. Gen. Jason Knobbe, commander of the Kansas Air National Guard; Col. David Hewlett, outgoing commander, 184th Wing; Col. Joseph Deeds, incoming commander, 184th Wing; and Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Vogt, command chief of the 184th Wing.
Knobbe began the ceremony by reflecting on the principles of leadership and the significance of the change of command. He shared feedback gathered from across the wing, highlighting the distinctive qualities of both commanders.
“Authentic and genuine. He’s loyal, yet he believes in accountability, and he holds people to a very high standard. David’s dedicated, 100% committed to the mission, but on the same hand, he’s 100% committed to the airmen that work with him,” Knobbe stated about Hewlett.
Feedback emphasized Deeds’ strategic leadership, describing him as, “focused and determined, yet he's enabling. He's an out of the box thinker who's able to explain things in an educated way, a strategic thinker and a planner, is grounded in the day-to-day and very down to earth.”
Knobbe emphasized the weight of wing command, explaining “Wing Command is not an easy job, and the decision to pick a wing commander is not an easy decision. You don’t just automatically get the opportunity to be the wing commander.
“It's a career's worth of growth, development, experience, track record of good decisions, moral character, and the willingness to put others first for the good of the United States Air Force. It's the ability to grind and endure when most would throw in the towel. It's not an easy task, and it's definitely not a light load. It's a heavy lift.”
Hewlett Reflects on Command and Charges Airmen to Remain Vigilant
Hewlett commanded the 184th Wing beginning in March 2024. He oversaw 1,300 airmen across five different groups, each with a diverse mission. His airmen were responsible for providing real-time, multi-domain intelligence, cyber and network support, and full spectrum air command and control.
Knobbe credited Hewlett for being “instrumental in the oversight and the execution of multiple joint combined large scale readiness exercises.”
Hewlett spoke with pride about the wing’s accomplishments during his command, “You've turned our vision into reality, and your results speak for themselves. You have taken on more exercise in training missions than ever before in our wing’s history. And each time you've proven why we stand at the forefront of operational excellence.”
He emphasized the importance of what the Airmen of the 184th Wing do, stating, “As you move forward, I urge you to remain vigilant. Do not become complacent. Our adversaries are persistent, cunning, and determined to disrupt our way of life... Continue to train hard, lead with integrity, and prepare like your lives and our nation depend on it, because they do.”
Deeds Takes Command and Highlights Role of 184th Wing in Future Fight
Deeds, who enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard in May 2001 as an aircraft armament specialist, conveyed his gratitude and commitment, “I can't even begin to tell you just how surreal this moment is and what it means to me and my family...24 years and four months later, I've been given the honor and the privilege to be this wing’s 16th commander."
After commissioning in 2007 as an intelligence officer and an Air Force Weapons School graduate in 2013, Deeds served in various roles throughout the Air National Guard. He was the Wing Weapons Officer for the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Military Assistant to the Director for Defense Intelligence, 184th Intelligence Support Squadron commander, 161st Intelligence Squadron commander, Director of Staff for Kansas Joint Forces Headquarters, and 184th Mission Support Group commander. His most recent assignment was as the 184th Wing deputy commander.
Looking ahead, Deeds addressed the airmen of the 184th Wing, emphasizing the evolving nature of each organization’s mission.
"The world is changing fast. Our peer adversaries plot our demise to our American way of life. You are what is standing in between peace and uncertainty," stated Deeds.
"From the fields and airspace of Smoky Hill to the virtual battlefields of cyberspace intelligence operation centers across the globe, the 184th has been exercising, preparing for our worst possible environment, and executing mission sets that showcase exactly what it means to be lethal, ready, and resilient.”
Under new command, the 184th Wing will remain committed to its priorities of lethality, readiness, and resiliency. “Our training is more than just exercises or practices. It’s our rehearsal. And it’s deterrence in action,” stated Deeds.